Web intaglio-printing press



B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTINGIPRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY-l2, I920. 17,

4 SHEETS-SHEYET I.

y mi.)

B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAYIZ,1920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

81 new Fox I GR a; I

B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAY12.1920. 1,378,386.

Patented May 17, 1921. Q} "I b I r in UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN n. STICKNEY, or WASHINGTONLDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WEBINTAGLIO-PRINTING PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d Ma 17 1921 Application filedMay 12, 1920. Serial No. 380,715.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN R. STICK4 NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Web Intaglio-PrintingPresses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to web intaglio printing presses, and"contemplates more particularly an improved means for obtaining a properimpression during the printing operation, thereby producing an evenlycolored and altogether superior printed product.

Atpresent, and in accordance with my invention, stamps and bank notes,for example, are printed upon a continuous web or strip of paper fedbetween printing and lmpression cylinders, a blanket being interposedbetween the web and the impression cylinder as shown. In practice, thecolor and general tone of the printed product are frequently found tovary, due to an uneven action of the impression cylinder caused byvarying thicknesses of the blanket, or an uneven cutting, forming orjoining of the printing plates.

It is an object of my invention to compensate for these varyinginequalities, undulations and irregularities by producing a novelimpression cylinder consisting of a floating shell yieldingly arrangedabove the printing cylinder and capable of conforming to the mostprominent or minutest unevenness which may be presented during theprinting operation.

Another object of my invention is em bodied in the novel supportingmeans of the impression cylinder, wherein it is free to bodily anddifferentially rotate with relation to the supporting means. 7 I

A further object of my invention is to produce a yieldableimpressioncyhnder suspended between relatively fixed and yieldingsupports whereby the greatest poss ble latitude of movements is affordedthe cylinder 'when conforming to the thick and thin portions in theblanket as will more fully here: inafter appear. 1

A still further object of my invention is to produce an impressioncylinder possessing advantages of assembly, longevity of use, andminimum cost in manufacture.

With these and other objects in VleW the press on the line 6-6 of Figinvention further consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the 'apfiendedclaims.

the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown my invention as appliedto a known type of web intaglio printing Figure 1 is .afragmentarysectional view of the press illustrating my improved impression cylinderin associated relation;

Fig. "2 is an enlarged. transverse view of the printing mechanism partlyin section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. etis a detached view in elevation of my impression cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough on the line 5---5vof Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectionalview 5 Fig. 7 is a detacheperspective view of the ringand pin' cooperatively associated with thedriving gear of the cylinder and more particularly a friction ordifferential control therefor;

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the yleldable supporting elementat one end of the impression cylinder;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating in an exaggeratedmanneiy the relation of the printing and impression cylinders, and theinterposed blanket, prior to forcing down the pressure roller;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the poas passing between the printingand impression cylinders.

My invention includes among other things an impression cylinderconsisting of a novel metallic shell or cylinder arranged to yielding orstretching of the paper and eliminating what is sometimes called cloudinor shading in the printed product. In igs. 10 to 13 inclusive someexaggerated positions of the impression cylinder are more or lessdiagrammatically illustrated, wherein the concentric and peripheralsurfaces of the cylinder are resiliently distended or sprung intosubstantially an elliptical shape. In

addition,'the shell can be resiliently distorted circumferentially suchas is shown in Fig. 12, or still again it may be longitudinally flexedas shown in Fig. 13. A diflerential' speed of rotation of the impressioncylinder with relation to the printing cylinder is also obtained by mynovel supporting means as will more fully' hereinafter ap ear.

y way of example, the two extremeconditions usually found in the blanketinterposed between the printing and impression cylinders are those ofthinness and thickness. In addition other irregularities of a mechanicalnature are often present. The present invention has been found tosuccessfully compensate for these deterioratingcircumstances, and as aresult preclude the production of an inferiorly printed and cloud web.

Re erring to the drawings and'more particularly F igs. 1, 2 and 3, Ihave shown a portion of a web intaglio. printing mechanism in which theweb '1- passes upwardly from the usual roll 2 over two separated seriesof moistening rollers 3 and 4;, and then downwardly against the printingplates of the printing cylinder .5, from where it is carriedupwardlyagain over 'a heater or drying means indicated by the numeral 6. The

Web is fed. further and continuously from.

this point to the gumming mechanism, and

- subsequently wound, but inasmuch as this latter and other associatedmechanism form no part of the present invention, I have not shown thesame, nor will I describe it in further detail The impression cylinderincludes a circular shell 7 formed of suitable metal-possessing'qualities of hardness tenacity and re--.'

silience, capable of producing a tractable ellipticity with relation tothe p'rintingcylinder. The shell 7 is 'revolubly mounted between arelatively fixed collar or support 8 and a yielding collar or support 9,see Figs. 4 and 5. These supports 8 and 9 are of novel construction inthat they. are each provided with annular ribs or flanges 10,

the inner faces 11 of which form supportingand bearing surfaces againstwhich the ends 12 of the shell 7 abut. The abuttlng surfaces areproperly machined and finished, so as to permit of the shell beingreadily moved or shifted invarying radial and revoluble positions. Hubs13 are formed upon the supporting collars 8 and 9, the size of saidhubsbeing reduced sufficiently to allow.

of a spring 16 adapted to bear against a removable key 17, which in turnbears against the collar 9. The key 17 is inserted through a slot 18formed in the shaft '15, and the opposite ends thereof are positionedwithin recesses or notches 19 provided in the collar 9, see Figs. 8 and9. A screw 20 is threaded into the end of the shaft 15 and retains thespring 16 in operative position against the key. This screw may beadjustable to vary the, tension of the spring as will be understood. L

The shaft 15 is journaled in bearings preferably constructed in the formof housings 21'yieldingly supported in the side frames 22. Springs 23 asshown in Fig. 2 are ar--- ranged above and below the housings 21, and

are interposed preferably between the bearing housings of the pr ntingcylinder 5 and q a superimposed pressure roll 24, and pr0- vide for theyielding positioning of the impression cylinder.

Motion is. transmitted to the shaft 15 through a gear 25 whichisfrictionally secured thereto as 'shown in Figs. 5- and 6. The gear isrecessed at 26 upon one side thereof, and is designed to receive a ring27 between which and the gear 25 is interposed a suitable frictionmaterial 28. The ring 27 is secured to the shaft by means of a key orfriction material 28 by meansof a ap end 32 adapted tobear' against thehu 33 of I in 29 arran ed within aslot 30. formed 1n the ring 2 anddesigned to ex-' the gear. -A screw 34 serves to f properly position thecap end 32 and a pin 35 is inserted through the said cap end and extendsinto the shaft 15 as shown in Fig. 5. From this construction it willbeobvious that a slipping action .is provided for difl'eren-1 'tiallycontrolling thepositive drive of the machine with relation to the web,thereby preventing breakage and, other possible amage 'of the Webthrough' improper strains and stretching.

The-gear 25 receives motion from a meshing gear 36 secured to the shaft37 of the the drawings.

printing cylinder 5. A bevel gear 38 which is preferably formed integralwith the said gear 36 receives motion in turn from a bevel shown,imparts motion to the main driving shaft as will be understood.

Meshing with the gear 25 is another gear 39 arranged to transmit motionto the shaft 40 of the pressure roller 24 hereinbefore re ferred to. Thepressure roller or cylinder 24 is superimposed above the impressionshell or cylinder and in contact therewith as shown, pressure beingapplied through plungers 41 interposed between the bearing housings ofthe pressure roller shaft 40 and suitable cams 42 carried by a shaft 43.1 The shaft 43 is operatively controlled by means of a hand wheel 44which when operated serves to rotate the cams 42 and force the plungers41 against the bearing housings of the pressure roller, during theprinting operation. The springs 23 serve to return the plungers, therebyrelieving the web from pressure when not printing by slightly liftingthe impression cylinder. This position is indicated in Fig. 10.

In describing the operation of my improved impression cylinder,reference being had to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, I have shown therelated positions of the printing cylinder 5, theimpression shell 7, apressure roller 24, the web 1 and an interposed blanket 45. j

In Fig. 10 the normal position of the impression shell or cylinder 7 isshown as circular. In this position the pressure roller has not beenmoved down and the web 1 is not in printing relation with the printingcylinder. 5 that is to say, in the great majority of instances thepressure when applied to the impression shell will have a tendency tovary its" circularity and it is this feature that I have attempted toexaggeratefiin the succeeding Figs. 11 and 12 of In some instances,however, it may be possible to maintain this circu- '-larity of theshell 7, While printing, and to cause its distortion only whencompensating for irregularities, undulations and the like. In practiceit has been found that when pressure is applied to the impressionshell,

the circularity of the same is distended to a more or less degree,thereby changing the circumferential contounof the shell to anelliptical periphery, the major and minor axesthereofbeing indica'ted byaand b. The degree of the pressure which is applied through themanipulation of the hand wheel 44, may be varied, but it is usual toregulate the same so as to provide for an effective printing contact'atthe thinnest possible portion of theblanket, such for example as isshown in Fig. 11, the thin place in the blanket being indicated by thenumeral 46. In producing this substantial ellipticity of the shell, itwill be obvious that the ends thereof are caused to radially lengthenand recede upon the inner faces 11 of the ribs or flanges 10, providedon the supporting collars 8 and 9, in conformity with the saidellipticity.

As-the impression cylinder is revolved, it will be seen that the path oftravel thereof is substantially elliptical, the extent of ellipticitychanging in conformity with the irregularities of the blanket and otherattenuating conditions.

For example, in Fig. 12, anexaggerated position of a portion of theshell7 is shown wherein a comparatively thick place in the blanket indicatedby the numeral 47, has peripherally affected the shape of the shell andits ellipticity, causing it to radially recede without damaging the webor otherwise marring the printed surface.

In addition to these cross sectional illustrations of some of theconditions incident to web intaglio printing, I have illustrated in Fig.13 a longitudinal flexing of the shell due to an enlarged and relativelywide portion 48 of the blanket. Numerous other contingencies areapparent as arising from either the condition of the blanket or themechanical imperfections of the printing plates and I do not limitmyself to the conditions illustrated herein.

.With the shell 7 under pressure as here-- tofore described,theresilient action thereof is to recover its circularity, but thisbeing restricted by the aforesaid pressure, it follows that the web- 1is effectively pressed into all'undulations of perfect and imperfectformation in the printing plates for sharply printing the product.

In addition to the aforesaid radial, longitudinal and other resilientmovements of the shell, a differential revoluble speed is obtainedwhereby the said shell moves circumferentially with relation to thebearing faces 11 of the supporting collars 8 and 9. The passage of theweb 1 therefore, between the printing and impression cylinders is evenlyeffected, thereby permitting a synchronous cooperation of the saidprinting and impression cylinders at the time of printing without strainupon the web. Supplementing this revoluble differential movement of theshell, the friction device heretofore described is also provided forpreventing a positive feed of the web to the point of breakage whenunder too great a strain as will be understood.

The universality of my impression cylinder in compensating for allmanner of movements during the printing operation, will be apparent fromthe foregoing, especially in view ofthe attempts heretofore made tosuccessfully support an impression cylinder so as to permit of itseffective op' eration at all points and under all conditions.

Various changes in the size and proportions, as well as the constructionand. arrangement of the several parts'may be resorted to, and I do notlimit myself to the exact form shown and described herein.

I claim 1 1. A web intaglio printing press including in combination aprinting cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor, consisting of a freecircular shell, and means for varying the entire circularity thereofwhereby the web iskept in continuous contact against the printingcylinder.

2. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilientmetallic shell and means for changing the entire circularity'of saidshell into that of ellipticity whereby the web is kept in continuousprintin g contact by the elasticity of the shell. v

3. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilientmetallic rshell, means for supporting said shell in movable floatingrelation to the said printing cylinder, and means for changing theentire circularity of the shell and increasing the resiliency thereoffor keeping the web in continuous printing contact against the printingcylinder.

4, A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilientmetallic shell, and means for varying the radial relation of the entireimpression surfaces of said shell for increasing its resiliency, wherebythe web is kept in continuous printing contact against the printingcylinder.

5. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an

aforesaid resilient metallic impression cylinder therefor consisting oflation to the aforesaid shaft.

a free resilient metallic shell, and means whereby the radial andlongitudinal relations of said shell are varied at all points to keeptheweb in continuous printing contact against the printing cylinder.

6. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilientmetallic shell, means for supporting the shell in complete and movablefloating relation to the printing cyl inder, and means for changing thecircularity of said shell whereby the resulting elasticity of suchchange serves to keep the web in continuous printing contact against theaforesaid printing cylinder.

7. A web intaglio printing press includ ing in combination a printingcylinder, an

impression cylinder therefor consisting of a resilient metallic shell,means for driving said shell, and means for supporting the shell inmovable floating position and diflerentially revoluble with relation tothe driving means therefor;

9. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder consisting of a resilient metallicshell, means for driving said shell, means for differentiallycontrolling the rotation of the said shell with respect to the drivingmeans, and means for supporting the shell in radially floating positionfor increasing the resiliency of said shell, whereby the web is kept incontinuous contact against the'printing cylinder.

10. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder consisting of a resilient metallicshell, means for driving said shell, and means for differentiallycontrolling the rotation of the said shell with respect to the drivingmeans, whereby the operation of the printing and impression cylinders.is synchronized during the printing operation.

11. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which saidshell is floatingly mounted for driving the same, and supportingbearings for the shell carried by the said shaft whereby adifi'erentialspeed of rotation can be imparted to the said shell with respect to thedriving shaft therefor.

12. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which theshell is floatingly mounted for driving the same, and

spaced bearings between which the shell is revolubly differentiallysupported with-re- 13. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, ashaft about which the shell is floatingly mounted for driving the same,and relatively fixed and yielding bearings be tween which the shell isrevo'liibly supported.

14:. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which theshell is floatingly mounted, an adjustable bearing support for one endof said-shell, a movable support for the other end of the said shell,and means including a spring for floatingly retaining the shell betweenthe aforesaid bearings.

. 15. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which theshell is floatingly mounted, a relatively fixed bearing support for oneend of the shell a movable bearing support-for the other end of sa d 16.A web shell, a key for detachably positioning the movable bearing uponthe shaft, and a spring for pressing thesaid movable bearing against theshell for yieldingly retain ing the same between the bearing supports.

intaglio printing press include ing ,in combination a printing Cylinderand the blanket for maintaining the said blanket against the web duringthe printing opera- 7 tion. 1 v

17. A web intaglio printing press including in combinationa printingcylinder and blanket, an impression cylinder formed of a floatingresilient shell freely and revolubly supported at each end thereof, andmeans whereby the said shell is caused to move 1on gitudinally andradially for forcing'the said blanket at all times against the webduring the printing operation. I

- 18. A Web intaglio printing press includ- I ing in combination aprinting cylinder, an

impression cylinder therefor consisting of I a free resilient metallicshell, means for supporting the shell in movable floating position, andmeans including a friction device for drlving said shell and permittingof differential rotation therewith.

19. An impression cyllnder comprising a freely' mounted shell, asupport" for said shell, and means for floatingly positioning the shellin said support.

In testimonyjwhereof I l BENJ R. STICK EY.

flix'my, nature. 1

